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Australia's Penny Wong Expresses Outrage Over Israel's Decision Not to Launch Criminal Investigation into World Central Kitchen Strike

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed outrage over the Israeli military's decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes that killed seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen. The strikes, which occurred in Gaza, resulted in the deaths of three British nationals, a Polish national, a dual US-Canadian citizen, and the Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended the decision, stating there was no criminal intention and that the strike was a "tragic mistake" caused by serious procedural failures and mistaken identification of an armed guard as a Hamas fighter. However, Penny Wong noted that the first strike was a "catastrophic error" and questioned why two additional strikes followed minutes later. The UK, Canada, and Poland also expressed disappointment and described the decision as "shameful." World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres demanded an independent investigation, arguing that the IDF cannot credibly investigate its own conduct. In contrast, the IDF announced it would launch criminal investigations into the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab and 15 other Palestinians in 2025.

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